Tripp Atkinson

Pastor, Speaker, Consultant

Identity

Check Your Pockets

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Students, thanks for hanging with us through these First 30 devotionals for college students. I promise the spiritual investment you make in yourself will pay dividends for years to come. As we wrap up this First 30 series, I pray that the spiritual investment will continue. I pray that college will not be a time to simply survive, but to thrive.

As you face the rest of your first year in college (or work, military, etc.), I hope you never forget three things. These three things are so important, I had them engraved on a challenge coin for each of my graduating students. If you are not familiar with a challenge coin, here is the significance…

Challenge coins are a longstanding tradition in the military that builds camaraderie and signifies a person is a member of a special group. Challenge coins serve as a symbol of identity, a source of pride, and a reminder of the support that one has behind them. We have a special challenge coin minted for our graduating class in hopes they serve as a constant reminder of their identity and values.

Let the features of this coin remind you of:

– Your Identity (Cross):

On the front of the coin is a cross (specifically the one we use in our Sugar Hill Church logo). Let this always remind you to find your identity in Christ & what He has done for you.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. – 1 Cor. 15:3-4

Jesus really is the BIGGEST DEAL!  What he did on the cross and in raising from the grave three days later are the most significant events in all of history. Because of the cross, our sins can be forgiven (Romans 3:23-25), we can be reconciled to God (Romans 4:25), we can experience abundant life (John 10:10), and our eternal home can be heaven (John 14:1-4).

Belief in the events surrounding the cross of Christ is what separates Christianity from every other world religion and faith system. It is not only the cornerstone of our faith, but also of our identity.

Let your identity always be rooted in:

– Your Support (“Welcome Home”):

Next to the cross on the front of the coins there is “Sugar Hill Church – Welcome Home.” We want you to know that no matter how far you may go, you are always “welcome home.” This is always your home & we always have your back. God never intended us to live life alone.

We were created to live in community. Throughout Scripture, we see that community is a big deal. (Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 27:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Romans 12:4-5,10, Romans 15:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Community in context of the church is modeled for us in the Bible. Acts 2 describes the early church,

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47

If you are away for college, we hope and pray you make it a priority to actively be a part of (& serve) a local church that makes the Bible a big deal, Jesus the biggest deal, and serving the way you show the love of Christ to your community. If you are close by, we hope and pray that you actively serve and grow in your faith at Sugar Hill Church.

Whether home or away, know that you will always have a home at Sugar Hill Church.  You will always have pastors, mentors, and leaders who love you and want the best for you.  We want to be friends and family for life!

– Your Foundation (Grounded for Life – Jeremiah 17:8):

On the back of the coin is a large green tree with the words “Grounded for Life” and the Scripture reference Jeremiah 17:8. This verse speaks about those who put their trust in the Lord –

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – Jer. 17:8

The tree is a picture of the life we want you to live. There will certainly be tough times ahead in life, Jesus even assured his disciples of this (John 16:33). But as you continue to trust in the Lord, you can have a foundation (“roots”) that offer stability in hardship and peace in uncertain times. In fact, even in the toughest days, you can thrive and “never stop producing fruit.”

As you continue to trust in the Lord, & intentionally live according to His Word, you truly can be Grounded for Life; that is, grounded to experience abundant life, and grounded for the duration of your life. You really don’t have to be a statistic of someone who fell away from their faith in college. You can fully enjoy the college experience without the regret, stress and disharmony of an inconsistent or lost faith. God wants the very best for you! This is discovered and lived in consistent relationship with Christ.

Check your pockets…

I encourage you to put your coin where you can see it everyday. Some days, you may need to physically carry it with you, and check your pockets often. (We all have days like that.) Whether you physically carry your coins or not, I pray that they will serve as constant reminders of your faith, family, & friends. Always know that God has got you & we are with you!!!

This devotional is one in Sugar Hill Church’s First 30 devotional series for college students.
To access the podcast of this devotional and the entire series, click here.
To subscribe to this blog, simply scroll up & add your email address in the box on the right.

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God’s Best

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Here is some good news:
– God loves you and wants the very best for you.
– God wants you discover and live His best.

So how exactly do we go about discovering and living God’s best?

We see some great truths of how to do this in Luke 5:1-11. This story is referred to as “The Great Catch” and is about a fishing trip that changed the course of Peter’s life. In this story there are 3 Defining moments through which Peter discovers and begins to live God’s best.

This story is set on a large lake, referred to as the “Sea of Galilee.”

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” – Luke 5:1-4

When Jesus told Peter to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets,” this made absolutely no sense. We are told that on Sea of Galilee, fishermen would fish at night, in shallow water.

Peter’s responds by informing Jesus ,

Master, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.” (vs. 5)

It’s important to note that when Peter referred to Jesus as “Master,” he was using a Greek word (epistates) that was a respectful title to one who is in authority, but not an acknowledgment of diety.

Peter reminds Jesus that he had “worked HARD all night” and hadn’t caught a thing. I imagine he was a little annoyed that a preacher (Jesus) was telling a professional fisherman (Peter) how to fish. But out of respect for Jesus, Peter reluctantly obeys. Peter says,

But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again. (vs. 5)

As he does this, we see the first defining moment for Peter:

1) He responds in obedience to Jesus.

Look at the result of Peter’s obedience…

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. (vss. 6-7)

Against the backdrop of Peter’s failure, God shows him what can happen as he does it God’s way… two boats filled so full with fish that they begin to sink!

Students, always remember, WHEN GOD DIRECTS OUR WORK, WE SEE RESULTS. God’s words can always be trusted.

We put faith in doctors because of the qualifications associated with their title (“M.D.”) We put faith in pharmacists because of the letters behind their name (Pharm D). Think about this… if you trust a doctor to diagnose a health problem and prescribe you medicine, and you trust that pharmacists to give medicine that will help you and not kill you because of the title associated with their name, how much more can you trust the one who has the title “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords?” Don’t you think if there is anyone qualified to speak truth into your life, it’s the Creator of life!

If there is anyone qualified to speak truth into your life, it’s the Creator of life!

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That’s why we say “The Bible is a big deal.” It is the Word of God.

Let’s look at what happens next in verses 8-10,

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”

The second defining moment for Peter is when:

2) He acknowledges Jesus for who He is.

In verse 8, notice what Peter called Jesus. Previously he had called Him master, clearly a term of respect, but now he calls Jesus LORD. The Greek word translated Lord means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding”. (It comes from the word kuros, which means ‘Supremacy’.)

Peter now sees Jesus for who He is. He realizes that the one who did a miracle in the lake, wants to do a miracle in his heart.

Peter changed his response to Jesus from one of respect to one of Lordship and notice what he does:

  • Falls At His feet.
  • He took his eyes off of the blessing to look at the blessor.

In the terror of realizing his sinfulness, Peter wants to get away from the holiness of the Lord, but Jesus wants to draw Peter closer. Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid…” (vs. 10) We see here the beauty of repentance; it is the place we exchange our sin for God’s grace. We sometimes view repentance as an ugly thing, when in fact, it is such a beautiful thing. Repentance is responding to an invitation to experience God’s best.

Repentance is responding to an invitation to experience God\’s best.

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Jesus continues,

…from now on you will fish for people.

Jesus not only receives Peter in repentance (draws him close), He tells Peter that he wants to use him as His instrument. Peter’s life is changed when he gets Jesus right. He learns the most important life lesson: It is all about Jesus. This leads to the third defining moment in verse 11,

 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

3) He drops his net and allows Jesus to direct his life.

This response led Peter to “forsake all” to follow Christ, shifting the view of his future, career, and dreams. He left everything and followed Jesus. He realized that Jesus doesn’t want a place in our hearts or lives, He wants all of it. God doesn’t want us to fit Him into our plans; he wants us to submit our lives to His.

You may have dreams and desires, but God may have something bigger in mind. Jesus took Peter from having an occupation (“to take up space”) to a vocation (“calling”).

Most likely, God doesn’t want to change your dreams, but He may want to give you a different view of it. You see, your calling is to reflect the purposes of God through whatever vehicle He has given you. Because He is God, you can trust Him, and in trusting Him (allowing him to direct your path) you can experience His best for your life.

Before this life-defining fishing trip, Peter would have said that he was a “follower” of Jesus. But it wasn’t until he forsook all (“all in”) that he became a true follower of Christ and became on mission with Christ. When he walked off that beach that day, there was no doubt where he stood in his faith.

Today can be a defining moment in your life as you acknowledge Jesus for who He is and respond in obedience to Him today. You don’t have to “follow” Jesus from afar. You can intimately know Him and receive His best for your life as you allow Him to direct your life.

As we acknowledge Jesus for who He is & respond in obedience to Him, we discover God’s best for our lives. Live his best today!

THE 140:
As we acknowledge Jesus for who He is & respond in obedience to Him, we discover God’s best for our lives.

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This devotional is one in Sugar Hill Church’s First 30 devotional series for college students.
To access the podcasts of this devotional and the entire series, click here.
To subscribe to this blog, simply scroll up & add your email address in the box on the right.

Identity Crisis

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So many college students, their first 30 days on campus, experience a significant crisis… an identity crisis. With so many things changing, so many new influences, so many new people to compare yourself to and impress, it’s sometimes easy to fall into the trap of questioning your value and purpose.

Let’s remind ourselves of some truth today…

1) God has given you immeasurable value that no one or nothing can change.

Consider the words of the Psalmist, who said,

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. – Psalms 139:13-14

Have you ever considered what it means that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by the Creator of the universe? The apostle Paul reminds us,

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10

As a “masterpiece of God,” you have been given a value that is priceless! And nothing can take that value from you.

I like to illustrate this point by pulling a $20 bill out of my wallet and asking who wants it. Of course, if I’m giving away $20, most would want it. (You never really understand the value of $20 until you get to college. Am I right?!) I then like to wrinkle up the money and ask again who wants it. Even after stepping on it, getting it dirty, and sneezing on it, the response to those who still want the money seldom changes. Why do people still want a $20 bill that is dirty, wrinkled, flawed, and even broken? Because no matter the condition or abuse it has endured, the $20 bill still has value!

If I did the same illustration with a piece of notebook paper, I doubt anyone would want it. But it’s different with money because a power with proper authority (U.S. Mint) has taken a piece of paper, has made it special, and has assigned a particular value to it that cannot be changed.

That is what God has done with us. He has made us his “masterpiece” and has demonstrated our priceless value by giving his very Son, Jesus, to die for us so that we could have life in and with him. (Romans 5:8)

If the Creator of the Universe loves you with such an unconditional love and has uniquely made and gifted you, why would you ever allow any attention from a guy or girl, any comparison to anyone else, or any opinions of anyone to take your eyes off of the priceless value given to you by God??

2) You were created by God to fulfill His purposes.

Most of our identity issues are related to a foundation problem. You were created for God’s purpose, you were not created so God could help you with your purpose. Getting this backwards has caused many people to build their lives on the wrong foundation.

But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. – 1 Corinthians 8:6

For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. – Colossians 1:16-17

We were made for God. Forgetting this simple truth leads to much frustration and identity issues.

If I tried to use my toaster oven to make a smoothy or my blender to make toast, what would happen? Right, I would have a hot mess! Well that’s exactly what happens when we try to use our lives for purposes other than that for which they were created.

It’s important to remember… a successful life is not a life that’s measured by comparing your life to what others have done, a successful life is measured by comparing your life to what you are supposed to do.

Well, what am I suppose to do?? So how do I live His purposes??

In discovering your purpose, start with what you KNOW is God’s purpose for you.

2 Foundational Commands from which our purpose flows

Great Commandment: Jesus is clear about what matters most to Him in Matthew 22:36-40. When asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Great Commission: In his final moments on earth, Jesus reminds his followers of his authority, gives them  a mission of huge significance, and promises to help them accomplish his purposes.

Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ – Matthew 28:18-20

This mission is our mission. The apostle Paul reiterates the significance of this mission and purpose in 2 Corinthians 5:20,

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

God has given you priceless value, and he wants to use you for his purposes. There is really no greater identity and no higher calling than what God has given you.

So today, remember this… In Jesus (nothing else) we discover our priceless value and divine purpose.

The 140:
In Jesus (nothing else) we discover our priceless value & divine purpose.

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We are praying for you as you live in that wonderful truth today!!

This devotional is one in Sugar Hill Church’s First 30 devotional series for college students.
To access the entire series & podcasts be sure to check SHC’s site each day,
as new ones are added daily.
(Who can you encourage today by sending them this devo?)

The Delight of God

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Who Am I? I am the Delight of God.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

– Zephaniah 3: 17 

Have you ever paused to really consider that God rejoices over you?  The NIV states, “He will take great delight in you.”  Think about that.  God.  Delights.  In.  You.  As sinful as you may be, you are God’s prized creation (Genesis 1:26-27) and He delights in you.

So many lose sight of this life-changing realization.  Instead of humbly celebrating the fact that they are the delight of God, many find themselves exhaustedly running on a hamster wheel of religion in an attempt to gain God’s favor.  This wheel may partially be created by well-intentioned Youth Pastors and Sunday School teachers who give student leaders “checklists” of Spiritual Disciplines and Bible Studies that will help them draw closer to God.  Although such resources can be extremely helpful, it is important not to confuse a list of “do’s” with enjoying a relationship with God.  This can quickly lead one to feel like a spiritual failure, which is exactly what God does not want.

What God does want is for us to delight in Him.  Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 70:4 says, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’” God delights in us as we delight in Him.  Just as an earthly father, God desires for His children to desire and take joy in Him.

Do not forget today the great price that God paid to have this love relationship.  While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. (Romans 5:8)  Christ’s death and resurrection not only offers freedom from sin and death, but it also offers freedom from an exhausting form of religion that seeks acceptance.  Accept the fact that you are loved by God with an infinite amount of love.  May your acts of service and devotion today be an overflow of your delight in the Lord; not to be checked off a list, but to be given as a spiritual act of worship.

Challenge…

As you pray today, take time just to delight in the Lord.  And pray that you will enjoy His company as much as He enjoys yours.

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  And for more devotions, click here. 

An Invaluable Part of the Body

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Who Am I? I am an Invaluable Part of the Body of Christ.

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”  – Romans 12:4-5 

 

Leaders naturally desire more influence. In fact, there are many leaders who begin each day praying a prayer like that of Jabez when he asked God to “enlarge my territory.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)  Leaders certainly should be driven to increase their influence for the sake of reaching more with the Gospel. But if we are not careful, that desire for more influence can evolve into something unhealthy.  It can become a desire for someone else’s ministry and giftedness. This can lead to a form of “spiritual jealousy” that seems admirable, but can render us ineffective as Christian leaders.

It is easy to see the ministry of someone like Billy Graham and desire that for yourself. But don’t forget the reality that if God wanted you to be Billy Graham, he would have made you Billy Graham. God doesn’t want you to be anyone other than you. In fact, “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” (1 Corinthians 12:18) And all of these members purposely do not have the same function.

No matter how insignificant or humble you may think your gifts are, the rest of the body depends on them. Consider this….If you remove your gifts from the body, the whole body of Christ suffers. God has uniquely gifted you to contribute to the body of Christ in ways that Billy Graham never could. There are people you can reach with the Gospel that your Pastor never could. God has given you a ministry that is markedly original.

Look at Romans 12:4-6 through the Message, “So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Go ahead and be what you were made to be today.

 

As you pray today, confess any “spiritual jealousy.”  Thank God that He has uniquely gifted you to do what no one else in the body can. Ask God to help you increasingly embrace your significance as an invaluable part of the body of Christ.

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  For more thoughts on your unique ministry, click HERE.

An Ambassador of Christ

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Who Am I?  I am an Ambassador of Christ.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:20  

This verse has some incredibly good news, and also some incredibly bad news.  The good news is that we are ambassadors for Christ.  Imagine the significance of that reality.  As followers of Christ, we not only receive forgiveness of our sins, have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, and enjoy eternal life that begins at the moment of Salvation; but we also have the privilege of representing Christ to this world.  What an honor!  This isn’t about representing your class, school, or even country, but about representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  How amazing that we have such a high commission.

The bad news is that WE are ambassadors for Christ.   This same overwhelmingly prestigious honor of being emissaries for Christ becomes soberingly bad news when we consider that most who call themselves Christians don’t take this responsibility seriously.  Think of all the times that “we” Christians grossly misrepresent our Lord.   The very word Christian means “little Christ”, but how well are we imitating Christ?  In fact, instead of drawing this world to Christ, many who claim His name do just the opposite.

Consider Paul’s description of his role as an ambassador of Christ;  “as though God were pleading through us… be reconciled to God.”  To whom in your life does God want to plead through you?

Do you feel overwhelmed and under-qualified to be an ambassador for Christ to this person?  The good news is that you do not have to do it on your own strength.  (In fact, you can’t.)  The Holy Spirit will empower you to produce Christ-like ”fruit” in your life, will give you the words to say, and will fill you with boldness as you yield to His work in your life.  Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left his followers with these words, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

 

So pray and ask God to help you fully embrace your significance as an ambassador of Christ.  Thank Him that you have the power available to you today to be a person of influence for His Kingdom.  Pray for boldness as you allow God to work through you to point others to Him. 

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.

God’s Masterpiece

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Who Am I?  I am God’s Masterpiece.

“This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb…” 

– Isaiah 44:24 

In the fairytale Snow White, the Queen (step-mother) finds daily disappointment in looking in her mirror only to be told that her beauty doesn’t quite measure up to that of Snow White.

While most children want to be Snow White in that story (or the handsome prince…sorry guys), the reality is that most children grow up to find themselves playing the role of the vain step-mother; obsessed with what their mirrors “tell” them each day.

Imagine the amount of time teens spend looking in the mirror.  For many, what they see in that mirror is not a reflection of who they really are, but an image that’s formed through the lens of what others have told them they are.   Good or bad, the labels that are put on teens can distort their true identity.  Labels such as “fat”, “ugly”, or “reject” can lead to a lack of self-worth and an obsession to change one’s appearance.  Labels such as “hot”, “cute”, or “popular” can be just as damaging, often acting like a drug to those who become obsessed with maintaining such an others-pleasing image. 

Imagine what would happen if students looked in the mirror, and instead of first noticing their hair, complexion, or shape, they noticed the amazing realization of Isaiah 44:24… they were formed by the Lord.  The Hebrew word for formed means to fashion or mold, much like a potter would create a work with a specific purpose in mind.  The NLT translation of Ephesians 2:10 communicates this same amazing message, “For we are God’s masterpiece!”  What an awesome truth!

When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless. Because your value has been assigned by your Creator, no label, sin, circumstance, or person can ever change that value.

 

[bctt tweet=”When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless.” username=”TrippAtkinson”]

 

Take time today to thank God for creating you as a masterpiece.  Confess to Him the times you’ve accepted labels others have tried to place on you and how you’ve allowed them to shape your identity.  Pray that you’ll see the beauty and value God has given you.  So, as you look in the mirror today, celebrate that value with the prayer of Psalm 139…

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 
– Psalm 139:13-14

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.